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Source: Pioneer Press, St.儲存 Paul, Minn.Dec. 20--The deadline for people to obtain health insurance through MNsure, the state's health insurance exchange, has been extended until Dec. 31.Consumers selecting a private health plan on MNsure now face a payment deadline of Jan. 10, meaning it must arrive by the close of business on Jan. 10 for coverage that's guaranteed and retroactive to Jan. 1.The deadline changes announced Friday respond to continuing frustration by consumers who are trying to finalize health insurance for next year, but are struggling with website glitches and an overloaded MNsure call center."We are aware of the concerns many consumers have as we approach January 1, and we are taking critical steps to ensure that Minnesotans have comprehensive, affordable health coverage when they need it," said Scott Leitz, the interim chief executive officer at MNsure, in a statement.Minnesota launched the online health insurance marketplace this year to implement the federal Affordable Care Act, which requires almost all Americans to have coverage starting next year.The extensions announced Friday apply only to individuals who use the exchange to purchase coverage. They don't apply to people who work for small businesses that are buying coverage through the exchange.State officials previously set Dec. 31 as the deadline for people to use MNsure and determine new eligibility for the Medicaid and MinnesotaCare public health insurance programs.People who don't buy private coverage until the last days of December will not have identity cards and enrollment materials from their health plan at the start of January, MNsure said Friday. But medical care will be covered if people meet the new deadlines."It is important that consumers understand that if the January premium payment does not arrive by the close of business on January 10, 2014, medical tests and other care received between Jan. 1 and Jan. 10 will not be covered," MNsure said in a prepared statement.As of Dec. 14, nearly 39,000 people were in th迷你倉 process of paying for private coverage through MNsure or had finished applying for public health insurance programs. Another 58,000 people at that point were associated with completed applications in the MNsure system, but hadn't yet made it to the final stage of enrollment.The health exchange has a goal of enrolling 135,000 people in public or private coverage options by March 31, when the current open enrollment period ends.Many of those trying to finalize coverage this month likely have insurance already, and want to prevent a coverage gap on Jan. 1. People motivated to buy insurance to comply with the federal law might wait, because the Affordable Care Act imposes penalties on those lacking health insurance for three or more months next year.Minnesotans who miss the Dec. 31 deadline may enroll in coverage that begins Feb. 1, March 1 or April 1, health exchange officials pointed out on Friday. MNsure also is publicizing the fact that consumers can enroll in coverage by directly contacting insurance companies, or working with insurance agents to do so.In recent weeks, there's been growing evidence that some consumers are skipping MNsure altogether to avoid the aggravation."Regardless of how you choose to enroll, the MNsure website is there to use as a reference to get information about plans and compare prices and benefits," said Leitz, the MNsure chief executive, in a statement. "Our goal is to make purchasing health insurance as easy as possible for consumers."People don't have to buy coverage through MNsure, but the marketplace is the only place where individuals can obtain federal tax credits. The subsidies can discount commercial health insurance premiums for some people, depending income, age, where they live and whether they smoke.Christopher Snowbeck can be reached at 651-228-5479. Follow him at .twitter.com/chrissnowbeck.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Visit the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) at .twincities.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉